Architecture Student Wins GCDC 2016

The verdict is in. Weta Workshop has named Chow Qin Yi the New Zealand winner of the 2016 Gwangmyeong Concept Design Competition, an international art contest seeking the next generation of conceptual design stars from New Zealand and Korea. Chosen by a panel consisting of Weta Workshop Creative Director Richard Taylor and senior artists from the Workshop’s design studio, the first-year architecture student from Auckland University has won a trip to Korea with Richard to attend the 2016 Gwangmyeong Concept Design Symposium.

This is the competition’s third year, and its biggest yet. 102 submissions were received from tertiary students throughout the country, all illustrating their unique take on the theme “Steampunk Korea”. For Weta Workshop, who runs the New Zealand arm of the competition, picking a winner from this extraordinary body of work was no easy task.

“The winning design demonstrated an exceptional level of technical and artistic ability, and considering the work is from the efforts of a young student, an astute appraisal of the brief with some wonderfully original ideas that realised the brief into a creative visual story. So much of the work submitted was successful in fulfilling the brief to the letter – but this one particular design really offered something very special and it is with great enjoyment we offer the winning place to this conceptual designer.”
-Richard Taylor, CEO & Co-founder, Weta Workshop

Qin Yi, an avid film fan, created his award-winning artwork in Photoshop in between assignments at the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning. In addition to a trip to Korea with all transfers, flights, food and accommodation covered by Weta Workshop, the hard-working student has scored himself a new tool of the trade: A Wacom creative pen display, the Cintiq 13HD.

“It is a tremendous achievement for one of our first-year architecture students to win this prize – that comes with a trip of a lifetime. Not only will Qin Yi get to travel to Korea with Sir Richard Taylor, but he will also get an insight into the many career options available to people within the creative sectors.”
-Professor Diane Brand, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries, University of Auckland

There is more good news, too. After reviewing the entries, the Weta Workshop team wanted to further recognise the enormous magnitude of talent on show. To that end, Richard has invited runner-up Wang Hening of Wellington’s Yoobee Design School to accompany him and Qin Yi to South Korea in late October.

2nd place, 2016 - Wang Hening, Yoobee Design School, Wellington

A second runner-up has also been chosen. LiWen Choy, a fellow Auckland University architecture student, will take home an Intuos Pro Medium pen tablet from Wacom.

Says Richard: “I am excited to be sharing the experience of Gwangmyeong and the Korea competition with our two winners as they journey up to take part in this wonderful conceptual design collaboration between our two countries.”

Weta Workshop is a five-time Academy Award-winning concept design studio and physical effects manufacturing facility that services the world's entertainment and creative industries. It's also a premier New Zealand tourism destination, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the artistry and creativity behind 20 years of filmmaking in Wellington.